Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

December 09, 2014, 12:07:02 pm

 Contacted International/Cummins shop in Mazatlan. Mechanic followed me to the campground to have a look at the radiator. After a thorough look he said he would be back tomorrow around 9am with another mechanic. Well, it is after 9 and no one is here, but that is fairly normal.

 I have some questions while I'm waiting.

 Will the motorhome have to be raised as in Barry Beam's 2003 extraction? If so, are the rear drive wheels off the ground? The rear end is at full air bags and the front is just over the tires, not a level spot. It may be enough of a drop to get the rad out, but what about brakes if it is not?

If raising the coach up I would assume from the center so as not to twist anything. My slide is out. And where would they place the jack?

I'm I going to lose the air charge (Air Conditioning)? anything else? I plan to salvage the coolant, is that a good or bad idea?

Anything out of the ordinary that would be good to pass on to the mechanics in this process?

It looks like a failed gasket between the rad and it's side tank. Other than that the radiator looks to be in pretty good shape, ie no corrosion and cooling fins all in place.

I know it was mentioned earlier that the bolts may be tightened but the mechanic felt quite sure the rad would have to come out. I would feel better about the rad if it was completly checked out in any case.

Thanks very much in advance for any comments. If they ever get here I'll take some pics. Then I will have to learn how to post them.  Thanks.  Tom

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #1 – December 09, 2014, 12:25:45 pm

You remove the side panel from the wheel back to be able to pull the radiator on our vintage coach. I did not have mine jacked up but on the shop floor.  I would put in new coolant too.

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #2 – December 09, 2014, 01:10:12 pm

Just had my radiator replaced, no need to remove the fiberglass panel, only the grille, coach was raised on airbags, blocked and nothing else, takes a savy tech, but lowering seems simple, but heavy.  The CAC is lowered with radiator, many hoses to mark & disconnect. If not clearly marked, on reassembly a great chance for confusion.
Removal of the fuel cooler is first, only reason to remove the grille,
The dual fan assy is also attached, many hoses.
Mycoach is the 36' version.
My options were recore, about $1,800, but end tanks too rusted for long tern repair, New assy from FOT about $4,200,  The CAC was also damaged, not leaking but would need replaced eventually, so new from FOT about $3,200.  Would guess labor at approx. $5,500-$6,000.

The good news, inside radiator was perfecyly clean, no sediment, all tubes & end tanks were like new, problem was majority of the fins are gone

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #3 – December 09, 2014, 01:32:51 pm

thanks John. Just to be clear; the recently painted side of the motor home comes off about a foot past the tag and where the end cap molding comes down at the rear, and then the side molding from the end cap to just about the tag; and that whole piece comes off to get the rad out?  wow! that will not be attractive to a perfect paint job. I can envision cracked paint chips off the molding.

This fellow mechanic seems to think he can drop it out. Should I even let him try? His first thought was to remove the panel but after awhile he thought he could drop it. I see on closer inspection removing the molding may not be that bad. The rear vertical piece can be taken off in one short piece. The horizontal molding going down the length of the coach may be unscrewed well back of the work area so as not to bend it, and supported by the rear window awning.

Have i got the right idea?

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #4 – December 09, 2014, 01:40:38 pm

Thanks Dave.  Luckily I have a good interpreter and will get all these comments to the mechanico.

Charge so far is just under 5000 peso's for removal/ installation so at this time I'm miles ahead. No estimate on collateral would be damage in the past or future.

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #5 – December 09, 2014, 02:04:56 pm

$347 and change. A good deal. Just move the decimal point over one.

On another subject, any time radiator fins are rotting away usually means winter driving on salt treated roads. Good to give the radiator a low pressure fresh water bath frequently.

Pierce

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #6 – December 09, 2014, 02:44:02 pm

Yes you have it right and that is how they hanged out two of my radiators over the 14 years I have owned foretravels. 

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #7 – December 09, 2014, 03:36:03 pm

Again I say take off side panel (as usual) it is easy and you will not harm the paint job once trim is removed. It makes it sooooo easy to remove CAC and cooler then rad and they can do a real nice clean up of all areas and paint. It is a no brainer for me every time. I am coming thru mazatlan around 7th Feb are you in  North beach area by Bar past the Riu
JohnH

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #8 – December 10, 2014, 11:29:08 pm

It goes without saying, I'll say it anyway, this forum and it's dedicated posters are far and away the most important resource in owning a Foretravel. Thank you.

 I'll post some pics soon I hope. It is out, and gone to the shop. I thought it was aluminium, but i see it is copper/ steel. The CAC  air cooler is aluminium.

 The mechanicos were very happy with the outcome. They did not raise the coach, nor did they take the panel off.

 John H.  we are in San Fernando with another unicoach 320 (Dan) from California. Up 3 blocks from Mar Rosa at the lights.

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #9 – December 11, 2014, 12:10:40 am

yes I know  San F with the little pool. I used to stay at San bartolo a few blocks away, a nice safe grassed RV park smack in the middle of houses. Do you go to Fat Fish like all Gringos while there?
JohnH

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #10 – December 30, 2014, 11:07:23 pm

UPDATE
  Two days before Christmas after many tomorrow promises, the job is done. Radiator came back looking like new, it was repaired not replaced. Have not figured out picture additions however very similar to Barry Beam's site Radiator Replaced on a 2003 U320 Cummins M-11. The panel was left on however the rear air bags were fully inflated and there is about an 8-10 inch drop to a nice flat concrete surface.

 It is a Cummins dealer so the job required the serial number of the engine and the coach. The estimator stuck to his estimate for installation and removal. The bill was 6,940 peso's. With my deposit of 3,500 peso's I thought that to be more than reasonable.  But wait! the estimator proceeded to subtract the deposit. 6940 was the total bill, around 540 / 570  Canadian dollars.

 We ran the engine for about a half hour without any problems. When underway I will be careful to watch for any air locks concerning the coolant.

 Yes John I have been at the "Fat Fish". Unfortunately it was during the daylight and smudges of unidentified stuff was wiped with a finger from our dirty coffee cups and that was the end of that story. It remains a very very popular place to have ribs, it is packed nearly every night.

 There are now 3 foretravels out of 28 rv's at San Fernando. "Shady Lady" pulled in 2 days ago. Have not met the owners yet.

Quote Selected

Re: 2000 M-11 42 radiator removal/install

Reply #11 – December 31, 2014, 11:05:59 am

I had to add about 3/4 of a gallon after I had my radiator installed and tested.  It took about 3 hours of running and then the air pockets were gone.

Quote Selected